Peppa Pig is one of the most watched animated shows of this generation. But why do many parents think the show influences naughty behavior?

Kids all over the world just love the Brit cartoon Peppa Pig. She’s sassy, funny, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. But over the years, parents have raised problematic aspects of the show. So it’s natural to wonder: is Peppa Pig bad for kids?

The award-wining show that has spawned its own line of toys is taking over the world. But some parents don’t buy in to the hype. In fact, one mom even banned the hit TV show in your household. Should you follow suit? Let’s take a closer look.

Is Peppa Pig bad for kids? 6 Problematic aspects of the show

1. Peppa can be disrespectful towards her dad

“Silly daddy” is something Peppa often says. Though some would find this endearing, it can send kids the wrong message that it’s okay to make fun of a parent’s appearance.

In one episode, Peppa even creates a password “daddy’s fat tummy” for people to be allowed to enter the tree house.

“I let (my daughter) watch the rest of the episode hoping for a positive lesson,” writes a mom on Common Sense Media. Instead, I ended up going over the scenes with my daughter explaining that this secret password to get into the tree house was not funny but mean and disrespectful.”

3. Peppa can be rude to her friends

“The main character is so rude and downright ugly towards other characters that are supposed to be friends. And the parents do absolutely nothing,” says parent Sydney.

Parents also agree that she tends to whine and not take losing well.

“I don’t like you anymore! You’re not my best friend,” has become a common catchphrase throughout the show. Remember that time she slammed the phone down on Suzie sheep for simply knowing how to whistle when she couldn’t?

4. She tends to promote unhealthy habits

But Peppa isn’t the only character who’s being viewed as a questionable role model. Her little brother George throws fits and tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. He also hates vegetables and loves chocolate cake.

But some parents would argue that the fact that they’re just depicting normal kid behavior make it endearing?

Many parents can relate to the struggle of having a picky eater! (image source: Peppa Pig facebook page)

5. She always tends to to say ‘no’ and ‘yuck’

“Too much verbal aggressions and bad role models. Peppa is disrespectful with her parents, and almost all the episodes have some kind of contempt for Peppa’s father. There are many other better choices for the same age,” writes Jacob, a dad of a 3-year-old.

Though intended to be cute quips and reactions, parents believe this teaches kids to be snarky and hostile.

6. She can present problematic concepts of gender

There’s nothing wrong with embracing traditional gender roles. Peppa is super girly; she wears a red dress and loves dolls. There’s nothing wrong with that. But it gets tricky when she refuses to do “boy stuff.”

This is a subtle quirk but it might be reinforcing stereotypes that can be disempowering limiting for children.

How to turn these problematic aspects into a good thing

Are there good lessons to be learned from Peppa Pig? Yes, aside from the fact that it can be funny, it also promotes the value of family and staying positive through life’s struggles.

What’s more, the show also celebrates strong female role models like Mrs. Rabbit, who is super hard working.

Mommy Pig is also an inspiring character because she strives to teach Peppa what’s right from what’s wrong with love and patience, even if Peppa can be stubborn at times.